KCWA Community Conversations

A monthly gathering series for fire-affected Kula residents and their neighbors

Our Community Conversations series began on August 25, 2023, with Kulaʻs slopes still burning following Hurricane Dora and the related Maui Wildfires disaster. With a growing need to stay connected as fire-affected residents, the community co-created this consistent space to share information, ask questions, and learn about recovery together in the wake of the wildfire disaster. What started as weekly Zoom gatherings hosted by KCWAʻs early leadership soon became an essential meeting place for our growing alliance — a place where neighbors, scientists, and land managers could listen, collaborate, and build trust as the community began to recover.

Over time, these gatherings transitioned from weekly to bi-weekly, and now take place monthly on the first Thursday of each month, continuing to serve as a vital forum for learning and connection. Each session features a guest speaker or panel offering insights on topics that shape Kula’s future — from watershed restoration and fire recovery to water security, native reforestation, and community preparedness.

Past speakers have included representatives from the County of Maui, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Maui County Fire Department, Maui Emergency Management Agency, Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization, the University of Hawaiʻi, State of Hawaiʻi DLNR/Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Skyline Conservation Initiative, Maui Invasive Species Committee, Hawaiʻi Agricultural Research Center, National Weather Service, Pacific Fire Exchange, and more.

Recordings are made available to all who register, ensuring that the information shared continues to reach and benefit our wider community.

Want to be informed of upcoming conversations?

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UPCOMING KCWA COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

  • WET SEASON OUTLOOK WITH TINA STALL, NWS HONOLULU

    11/06/25 6:00-7:00PM

    This month’s conversation will focus on a Wet Season Outlook from Tina Stall, the newly-minted Senior Service Hydrologist at the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Honolulu, who will share the 2025 Wet Season Outlook for Maui — including rainfall and temperature projections, El Niño updates, and a summary of the recent dry season (May through September 2025).

    REGISTER HERE
  • KCWA Community Conversation

    UNDERSTANDING MAUIʻS WATERSHEDS


    02/05/26 6:00-7:00PM

    What exactly is a watershed — and how does it really function on Maui? Join the Kula Community Watershed Alliance for a special Community Conversation with hydrologist Christopher Shuler of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Water Resources Research Center. In this accessible, general-audience talk, Christopher will explore how rain moves through our landscapes, how groundwater and surface water are connected, and why watershed health is essential for water security, ecosystem recovery, and community resilience.

    REGISTER HERE

  • KCWA QUARTERLY FIELD REPORT


    04/02/2026, 6:00 - 7:00PM

    These new quarterly updates provided by the KCWA project management team are designed to connect with KCWAʻs 70+ participating landowners. In these gatherings, our teams share what’s been accomplished on the ground, and give a look ahead at the priorities guiding our next season of work.

    REGISTER FOR QUARTERLY FIELD REPORTS